Morning Report – May 28th – Mack’s Army, Jeff Hoffman, Zack Thornton, 2015

                                                                                             

Coming Later Today –   

         9 30 am - Herb G's Minor League Report          

         11 am -   Reese Kaplan - "If You Choose Not to Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice"

                                                   

        12 30 pm – Robb – How To Improve The Mets

          3 pm - 2015 Draft Profile  -  RHP  -  Nolan Kingham  -  Sierra Vista (NV) HS

         6 pm - Greg Deichmann, Jacob Gatewood, Jakson Reetz, Jace Fry, Jordan Brink

Kevin Bartner ‏ @heshsson - @JohnMackinAde Mets are 20 for 129(.155) with only 4 XBHs in bases loaded, 2nd & 3rd & 1st & 3rd situations combined. Incredibly weak.

John Loopy said – Nimmo, Herrera, Riviera and Matz should all be up to Bingo ASAP.

Mack – I sometime feel like I’m either General Grant or Lee, trying to directly my various battles going on during my attempt to someday achieve victory

Right now, my main ‘army’ is the pro and AAA level pitchers that are beginning to kick ass wherever they go. We talked about them yesterday and they do not represent a problem to this team.

I would then have to put my next ‘most talented group’ in a younger, almost, General Pickett’s hit and hit again ‘posse’ with the talent youth in the organization. Names like CF Brandon Nimmo (.344), 2B/SS Dilson Herrera (,324), 3B/1B Jairo Perez (.328), 1B/IF T.J. Rivera (.368), SS/2B Phillip Evans (.280), SS/2B Gavin Cecchini, and SS/2B L.J. Mazzilli (.266), 2B/3B Jeff McNeil (.323), and 1B Dominic Smith (.271).

The good news is these ‘Raiders’ aren’t going to need as much pitching support as other companies in this army, but the bad news is they are two years away from the home front, hitting far too many short balls, and mostly middle infielder fighting for two permanent positions.

The Matz situation may be a lone rider trying get to the main army one year earlier that projected. He just might be the last true prospect starter in the Mets system past Noah Syndergaard, and, of course, the upcoming draft (why do you think I have written so much about power college arms like Tyler Beede, Kyle Freeland, and Sean Newcomb).

Derek McKnight to me -

With the trend of the Mets going under slot to save money for lower picks, why in your opinion would the Mets pass over (East Carolina RHP) Jeff Hoffman? Is it because of his TJS and they would be afraid to waste a top 10 pick on an injured player? The recover from the surgery is more successful these days than not, why not try and sign him under slot to save money. They would be getting a top ten player for lower first round, second round money.

        Mack – Hey Derek.

First, Hoffman doesn’t have to settle for under slot money. There’s a 99.9% chance that Boston would take him at #18 and they would gladly pay the full freight. Yes, you are right… the TJS issue doesn’t have the clout like it used to but that works both ways when it comes to the bonus money too.

Hoffman will, by far, be the best person on the board if he’s still up there at #10, but Alderson would never take on the reaction from the mass under-educated Mets fans that are all over #Twitter these days (remember… they aren’t buying tickets with any regularity anymore).

It’s a shame. You could place him right in the Binghamton rotation when he’s cleared around the all-star break in 2015.

The Mets have obviously not hit rock bottom yet. For my team, this might not be a bad time to consider replacing relief pitcher Scott Rice with Zack Thornton.

We all know this team isn’t going to win many games with bats, but we also know we’re getting sick of losing games being thrown away by aging members of the pen. Rice has done a nice job and his playing for 123 years in the minors made for a nice story, but let’s move on with Josh Edgin as our lefty for the rest of the season until someone else develops.

I’d like to see what Thornton has before the trading season begins. In addition, let’s cut some plane tickets and get all those guys (Adam Kolarek, Jack Leathersich, John Church, Chase Bradford) that are supposed to be playing AAA ball this year out of New York State for good. You can’t develop a bullpen if you don’t… err… develop a bullpen.

And lastly…

        Bob Gregory asked -

Mack, so, Alderson & company have been telling fans for years to have patience and wait till 2014.  Harvey is injured  and it becomes wait till 2015.  Now news comes regarding Syndegards injury.  Are the Mets going to tell the fans to wait for 2016 if Syndicated ends up needing surgery?

        Mack – Morning Bob.

Well, I don’t think Alderson is going to say anything this time. The 2014 version of this team has wasted little time in sending the word out that there isn’t enough in the dugout to get the job done this season.

Alderson, if chosen, has a few directions to go

He needs to stop by Fred Wilpon’s office and see if their still no money in the can. There are still some players out there that can help this team both this year and in the future.

He next needs to sit back and decide if Terry Collins is the person that can return this team to respect. If not, go back to Fred’s office and let him know that there will have to first be some money spent on a new manager.

I could on forever here… pen management… talent in pen… 120+ pitches in one outing… but, if you want to start to turn this ‘May hiccup’ around, stop doing the things that are causing the loses. We know the team has a run problem, but it’s the pen that is killing them right now.

I won’t go off on my Montero rant again, but, if he was back there with Mejia and Familia… and Torres was moved to the long man… and Dice-K replaced Montero in the pen until Gee returned…  I guarantee you this team would start winning games again that they give up only three runs.